Essential Quotes of Taoism
1. In Lectures on the Tao Teh Ching, Lao-Tzu says, that, "The mystery of the Mysterious is the gateway to all indescribable marvels". Does this quote have an equivalent to in Christianity? Are there other parts of the Tao Teh Ching that remind you of Christian ideals?
This quote has an equivalent to in Christianity since the “God” of Christians created the heaven and earth, and created everything existing in the world, according to the Bible. Because Taoism does not require suffering like Buddhism, it reminds me that Christianity also does not require suffering.
2. See Passage 2, "Not honoring men....Not wanting rare things...Not paying attention..." How does this help one understand how Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism found common ground and were not mutually exclusive belief systems?
Even though the “Three Teachings” is involving three different philosophies and religions, their basic ideas are the same because they all require honoring and not harming each other. Furthermore, all three teachings limit happiness and enjoyments for other factors.
3. In Passage 2, what do you think is meant by the lines, "relaxing the mind, reinforcing the abdomen, gentling the will, strengthening the bones"?
I think what is meant by these lines is that by relaxing the mind, many things are now able to be done easily, the ones which were impossible to be accomplished when the mind was full of successfulness.
4. Consider the last three entries from D.C. Lau's Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu describes government. How is this ideal different from Confucius' ideal? What present day system of government are you reminded of when you read this section? Do you think this is a good system? Explain.
This ideal is different from Confucius’ ideal because Confucius stated that the government should be led by the citizens. Lao Tzu’s government is led by the government itself, while the government thought by Confucius is led by the citizens. I prefer Confucius’ government which the citizens may have their voice and opinions involved in for the decision of the country.
5. Regarding the third treasure that Lao Tzu describes, what do you think is his message? Do you agree? What does this say about people who are ambitious?
I think Lao Tzu’s message is that a person who knows and understands his/her own position is more likely to succeed than a person who is disrespectful and triumph about his/her position. I disagree with Lao-Tzu’s idea because a person succeeds by overworking and being proud of his/her own position and , instead of being less positive about it. This says about people who are ambitious are way behind in the society because people who try hard for the goal will take over them.
WHAT DO RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY HAVE IN COMMON? And, WHY IS THE STUDY OF RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY IMPORTANT?
Religion and philosophy are both believes in god or a theory. They are both well known to people and quite many believe in them. They play big roles in the society recently.
The study of religion and philosophy are important because humans believe in them and learn lessons. They are also important because religion is a belief which makes the prayers stronger and philosophy produces theories with proves.
Sep. 2nd, 2011
Characteristics of religion and its prayers
The most common religion has been Christianity for a few centuries, and it is still one of the most popular religion nowadays. Although Korea was greatly affected by Buddhism, there are more than ten thousands churches existing in South Korea at the moment. Also, the number of Christians outnumbered Buddhists from a few decades ago, at an amazing rate. I myself, too, have been to churches a few times in my life, while I have rarely been to a Buddhist temple. I still do believe in Christianity; however, my father forbids me from going to church. My father, who does not have a religion, believes that there is no god existing. When young, I had to visit the churches by evading my father’s eyes and following my friends. Every time I went to churches, I lied to my father that I was going to hang out with my friends, I had to do a project with my friends, and such excuses that would make my father to trust me. Therefore, one of my wishes, is to go and visit a church of anywhere when a chance comes.
The religion impacts my religion from many sides. First of all, my family, varies in religion. My sister is a Buddhist and I am a Christian, while my parents do not have a religion. Even though there is no tension formed due to the variety in religions, we have different thoughts whenever something significant happens. My sister and I argue that the god helped us, while my parents say that it was a fortune. Sometimes, this discussion or debate goes on for a few days, and even for weeks. One day, we had an argument like this for over an hour on the topic of lottery. Of course, my sister and I said that god plans everything, and my parents said that everything existed was luck. Luckily, it was weekends, so we could think deeply about the topic and suggest our ideas, but nobody agreed with others’ arguments.
Christianity is already widespread in every part of the world, impacting the society. Still, more and more people are converting from other religions to Christians. Including the Catholics, Christianity is the largest religion group in the world, and its invisible power is tremendous. The calendar is written according to the birth of Jesus, the most important figure in Christianity. In addition, some Christians in Korea go around houses and suggest them to believe in Christian and come to their church. Sometimes people are disturbed by these actions. However, the studies of Christianity rarely involves immorality. Indeed, with a few exceptions, most Christians are responsible to the society and are moral. The problem is, that they intend to persuade too many people who have no interest in Christianity, or even religion.
The narrator is talking with Winnie the Pooh about a picture called The Vinegar Tasters, which showed different opinions of Buddha, Confucius, and Lao-tse based off the expressions on their face on the taste of vinegar. The vinegar represents life and one can see that Lao-tse is smiling. The narrator explains why Lao-tse is smiling and how that is related to the main ideas and sayings of Daoism. He uses Winnie the Pooh as an example and begins from this chapter on explaining how certain situations represent the principles of Dao.
Discussion Questions
1. Who were the men that tasted the vinegar, and what were their expressions? Why did they express the way they did towards the vinegar?
2. What is the message of The Vinegar Tasters? Do you agree with this message? Why or Why not?
3. What does Lao-tse mean when he says that it would be insulting both to its unlimited power and to the intelligent human mind if they attempted to describe the Way of the Universe in words? Can you connect this with any other situations where one attempts to describe something they cannot?
Thematic Analysis
The chapter is helping the readers analyzing the major differences between Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The lives of prayers of each of the “Three Teaching” were different in the way of understanding lives. Confucianists and Buddhists understand life as bitterness and sourness. In contrast, Lao-tse, the founder of Taoism, taught lessons about respecting others. In addition, while Confucianists and Buddhists understand the unpleasant tastes of the life as it tastes like, Taoists change them into something positive. They try to understand and know life deeply.
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Essential Quotes of Taoism
1. In Lectures on the Tao Teh Ching, Lao-Tzu says, that, "The mystery of the Mysterious is the gateway to all indescribable marvels". Does this quote have an equivalent to in Christianity? Are there other parts of the Tao Teh Ching that remind you of Christian ideals?
This quote has an equivalent to in Christianity since the “God” of Christians created the heaven and earth, and created everything existing in the world, according to the Bible. Because Taoism does not require suffering like Buddhism, it reminds me that Christianity also does not require suffering.
2. See Passage 2, "Not honoring men....Not wanting rare things...Not paying attention..." How does this help one understand how Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism found common ground and were not mutually exclusive belief systems?
Even though the “Three Teachings” is involving three different philosophies and religions, their basic ideas are the same because they all require honoring and not harming each other. Furthermore, all three teachings limit happiness and enjoyments for other factors.
3. In Passage 2, what do you think is meant by the lines, "relaxing the mind, reinforcing the abdomen, gentling the will, strengthening the bones"?
I think what is meant by these lines is that by relaxing the mind, many things are now able to be done easily, the ones which were impossible to be accomplished when the mind was full of successfulness.
4. Consider the last three entries from D.C. Lau's Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu describes government. How is this ideal different from Confucius' ideal? What present day system of government are you reminded of when you read this section? Do you think this is a good system? Explain.
This ideal is different from Confucius’ ideal because Confucius stated that the government should be led by the citizens. Lao Tzu’s government is led by the government itself, while the government thought by Confucius is led by the citizens. I prefer Confucius’ government which the citizens may have their voice and opinions involved in for the decision of the country.
5. Regarding the third treasure that Lao Tzu describes, what do you think is his message? Do you agree? What does this say about people who are ambitious?
I think Lao Tzu’s message is that a person who knows and understands his/her own position is more likely to succeed than a person who is disrespectful and triumph about his/her position. I disagree with Lao-Tzu’s idea because a person succeeds by overworking and being proud of his/her own position and , instead of being less positive about it. This says about people who are ambitious are way behind in the society because people who try hard for the goal will take over them.
WHAT DO RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY HAVE IN COMMON? And, WHY IS THE STUDY OF RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY IMPORTANT?
Religion and philosophy are both believes in god or a theory. They are both well known to people and quite many believe in them. They play big roles in the society recently.
The study of religion and philosophy are important because humans believe in them and learn lessons. They are also important because religion is a belief which makes the prayers stronger and philosophy produces theories with proves.
Sep. 2nd, 2011
Characteristics of religion and its prayers
The most common religion has been Christianity for a few centuries, and it is still one of the most popular religion nowadays. Although Korea was greatly affected by Buddhism, there are more than ten thousands churches existing in South Korea at the moment. Also, the number of Christians outnumbered Buddhists from a few decades ago, at an amazing rate. I myself, too, have been to churches a few times in my life, while I have rarely been to a Buddhist temple. I still do believe in Christianity; however, my father forbids me from going to church. My father, who does not have a religion, believes that there is no god existing. When young, I had to visit the churches by evading my father’s eyes and following my friends. Every time I went to churches, I lied to my father that I was going to hang out with my friends, I had to do a project with my friends, and such excuses that would make my father to trust me. Therefore, one of my wishes, is to go and visit a church of anywhere when a chance comes.
The religion impacts my religion from many sides. First of all, my family, varies in religion. My sister is a Buddhist and I am a Christian, while my parents do not have a religion. Even though there is no tension formed due to the variety in religions, we have different thoughts whenever something significant happens. My sister and I argue that the god helped us, while my parents say that it was a fortune. Sometimes, this discussion or debate goes on for a few days, and even for weeks. One day, we had an argument like this for over an hour on the topic of lottery. Of course, my sister and I said that god plans everything, and my parents said that everything existed was luck. Luckily, it was weekends, so we could think deeply about the topic and suggest our ideas, but nobody agreed with others’ arguments.
Christianity is already widespread in every part of the world, impacting the society. Still, more and more people are converting from other religions to Christians. Including the Catholics, Christianity is the largest religion group in the world, and its invisible power is tremendous. The calendar is written according to the birth of Jesus, the most important figure in Christianity. In addition, some Christians in Korea go around houses and suggest them to believe in Christian and come to their church. Sometimes people are disturbed by these actions. However, the studies of Christianity rarely involves immorality. Indeed, with a few exceptions, most Christians are responsible to the society and are moral. The problem is, that they intend to persuade too many people who have no interest in Christianity, or even religion.
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Summary of The How of Pooh
The narrator is talking with Winnie the Pooh about a picture called The Vinegar Tasters, which showed different opinions of Buddha, Confucius, and Lao-tse based off the expressions on their face on the taste of vinegar. The vinegar represents life and one can see that Lao-tse is smiling. The narrator explains why Lao-tse is smiling and how that is related to the main ideas and sayings of Daoism. He uses Winnie the Pooh as an example and begins from this chapter on explaining how certain situations represent the principles of Dao.
Discussion Questions
1. Who were the men that tasted the vinegar, and what were their expressions? Why did they express the way they did towards the vinegar?
2. What is the message of The Vinegar Tasters? Do you agree with this message? Why or Why not?
3. What does Lao-tse mean when he says that it would be insulting both to its unlimited power and to the intelligent human mind if they attempted to describe the Way of the Universe in words? Can you connect this with any other situations where one attempts to describe something they cannot?
Thematic Analysis
The chapter is helping the readers analyzing the major differences between Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The lives of prayers of each of the “Three Teaching” were different in the way of understanding lives. Confucianists and Buddhists understand life as bitterness and sourness. In contrast, Lao-tse, the founder of Taoism, taught lessons about respecting others. In addition, while Confucianists and Buddhists understand the unpleasant tastes of the life as it tastes like, Taoists change them into something positive. They try to understand and know life deeply.